Heres a fun fact for all the legalites out there, while Australia doesn't have guaranteed freedom of speech under our constitutuion we do have freedom of speech guaranteed under the United Nations of which Australia is a member.

Subtly pointing out that Australia has to deal with its own issues.I agree but only to a point.International pressure will be a massive part of resolving this.

Atkinson's key arguements are based on assumption and willfull ignorance.If he can be dragged onto a debate on nation TV that would help.Any mature industry rep or even knowlegable gamer would make short work of his key points.Down side to that is this issue needs to get big and glossy enough to enter into public debate and I cant see that happening any time soon.Also from the only debate I've seen on the ABC,the experts on the panel discussing the issue were mostly blatently baised against a 18+ rating,not to mention the moderator as well.Thats what were up against as far as televised debate is concerned.

Unless Atkinson actually did have sex with two asian hookers and an elephant.If only.

008Zulu:Heres a fun fact for all the legalites out there, while Australia doesn't have guaranteed freedom of speech under our constitutuion we do have freedom of speech guaranteed under the United Nations of which Australia is a member.

As amusing as this is, Michael Atkinson isn't the Attorney-General of Australia, he's the Attorney-General of South Australia. Also, I get the feeling that state Attorney-General is an appointed position, not an elected one, and he's involved mostly in legislative appointments and approvals on a state level, and isn't even required to be a member of parliament. So since he's not really involved in policy-making beyond overseeing the legal ramifications, all that stuff about vote-pandering isn't really relevant.

But on a more serious note, are Australians allaowed to purchase these illegal games of sites such as Ebay, and then have it mailed to them?Or is it simply illegal all around, and even owning it is illegal?

But on a more serious note, are Australians allaowed to purchase these illegal games of sites such as Ebay, and then have it mailed to them?Or is it simply illegal all around, and even owning it is illegal?

It's all too easy to get "banned" games. You can import from New Zealand (like Germany imports banned games from Austria) .. or just a few setting changes, and we download it off steam like everyone else.

The classification board might think it has the almighty power, but all it's doing is screwing over local retailers...

But on a more serious note, are Australians allaowed to purchase these illegal games of sites such as Ebay, and then have it mailed to them?Or is it simply illegal all around, and even owning it is illegal?

So I read up on it, and it seems to be similar to when one of our Yankee games gets the AO rating, and some major chains refuse to carry it(virtually all, really). However, with a ban in Australia, it is all stores, everywhere.

But on a more serious note, are Australians allaowed to purchase these illegal games of sites such as Ebay, and then have it mailed to them?Or is it simply illegal all around, and even owning it is illegal?

Its illegal in the way that Cuban cigars or Stolichnaya is/was in the US. Thats to say it is, but no ones gonna enforce it.

But on a more serious note, are Australians allaowed to purchase these illegal games of sites such as Ebay, and then have it mailed to them?Or is it simply illegal all around, and even owning it is illegal?

Its illegal in the way that Cuban cigars or Stolichnaya is/was in the US. Thats to say it is, but no ones gonna enforce it.

OT: This article suddenly clarifies so much about Atkinson.

Wait wait wait wait wait.. Stoli is illegal in the US?! Since when? Oh this is bad news.....

Asparagus Brown:As amusing as this is, Michael Atkinson isn't the Attorney-General of Australia, he's the Attorney-General of South Australia. Also, I get the feeling that state Attorney-General is an appointed position, not an elected one,

He is an elected member of South Australia, who was appointed as AG by the majority party leader (a portfolio, his area of responsibility in the cabinet).